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Barack Obama and John McCain meet for a forum at Saddleback Church in California.
AP Photo

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Given the sharp words exchanged between their campaigns in recent weeks, John McCain and Barack Obama put on a good show of civility Saturday at their first joint appearance of the all but officially begun general election race.

Midway through the forum at Saddleback Church, McCain joined Obama on stage. The rivals, who have spent the summer quarreling as much over the definition of “celebrity” as the details of their policy proposals, exchanged a man hug, a handshake followed by a one-armed embrace. Smiling and tieless, they took their place on either side of the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical preacher who brought them together.

For one night, at least, Warren may have achieved his desired goal of comity. Neither candidate spoke critically of the other. And perhaps most tellingly, their campaign’s rapid response teams fell silent for the night.

It may well prove a brief respite before a critical three-week stretch in which McCain and Obama will announce their vice presidential picks and accept their party’s nomination.

Obama mentioned a potential vice presidential nominee, former Sen. Sam Nunn, when asked by Warren to name three people he considers wise and would rely on for counsel as president. Nunn was listed after Obama's wife and his 85-year-old grandmother.

McCain threw in a vice presidential possibility, as well: former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman, whom he described as someone he valued in economically difficult times. He also mentioned Gen. David Patraeus and, surprisingly, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).

Warren sought introspection over confrontation, pressing the candidates in separate one-hour interviews to reflect on their most gut-wrenching decision, their biggest moral failing and their faith. Warren often asked blunt questions and, at one point, playfully warned Obama: “Don’t give me your stump speech on these.”

Obama appeared at ease in the southern California megachurch, a setting that played to his comfort level with openly discussing his faith. He quoted a Biblical proverb and spoke at length about his faith as a “source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis.”

“I know that I don’t walk alone, and I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what he intends,” Obama said.

The audience of several hundred inside the auditorium offered polite and occasionally enthusiastic applause throughout the forum. Yet Obama had trouble with the crowd when Warren asked, “At what point does a baby get human rights?”

“Whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade,” Obama said in a response that elicited a low murmur from the audience.

He went on to acknowledge that he supported abortion rights, a position that has proved an obstacle to Obama in increasing his share of evangelical voters.

A few minutes later, however, the audience members thundered applause when Obama said he believes marriage is the union of a man and a woman. But the crowd also clapped when he said he would not support a constitutional amendment codifying that definition.

As the candidate who often appears less at ease discussing his faith, McCain appeared comfortable as he wove bits of his religious views into his answers. He joked more often than Obama and told stories about the adoption of his 17-year-old daughter from Bangladesh and his captivity in Vietnam.

Asked what his faith meant to him, McCain said it “means I’m saved and forgiven.” He referenced the works of his Southern Baptist church in Phoenix, and his reliance on prayer during his captivity in Vietnam.

McCain said his greatest personal moral failing was the “failure of my first marriage.”

There was speculation as to whether Warren would press McCain on his divorce, which McCain addressed before Warren, who was critical of former Sen. John Edward’s ability to lead after he admitted he had an affair, had a chance to ask.

Asked which justice he wouldn’t have nominated to the Supreme Court, Barack named Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s only African American.

“I don’t think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time, for that elevation, setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the constitution,” Obama said.

Obama sounds very much like he's saying Thomas is "an oreo" or "uppity Black."

Obama would leave Ginsberg on the Bench but remove Thomas?! How nuts is that?

Obama didn't go for the two most Conservative judges (Roberts and Alito, great people), but went after Thomas, an odd choice since Thomas is far more Conservative (as nearly anyone is) to Ginsberg, so it was Thomas specifically that Obama has problems with..."uppity Black" who Obama certainly appears to resent.

Evangelicals won't like the way Obama struts around like he's Jesus Christ. The ultimate pandered will never be able to explain away the racist dogma of Trinity Baptist, which is INEXCUSABLE to any TRUE Christian. Combine that with the fact that Obama attended for political reasons and what you have is a true hypocrite.

My hubby and I are both black and our "black" sides agree 100% that Clarence Thomas is as far from a Brutha as one can get. He's not only an uncle Tom, he's a terrible SCJ and is taking up a seat! Oh and for those who thought that Senator Obama flopped tonight, if you're of the "git 'er done", slogan, sound-bite mentality, then sure Mc is your guy. If you are educated,thoughtful, pragmatic and see things more nuanced and not all "black and white" then Senator Obama is your man. I hope and PRAY that our country is made up of more of the latter, although the Politico boards don't seem to be.

I am not a Republican, but it always makes me want to vomit that people lionize Ted Kennedy. He killed a woman. If he wasn't rich and socially connected, he would be in jail.

He did not kill Mary Jo Kopechne. She died of drowning. He did well to save himself due to being disoriented. Had he actually killed her, his money would not have done him any good, and he would not be one of the longest standing Senators in this Nation.

The picture Politico used for this story embodies what we saw at that forum. John McCain and Rick Warren standing together with a sneer on their faces while Obama cautiously reaches toward them. They probably couldn't believe he fell for the trap. Everything was set up perfectly so straight talkin' Songbird McCain could rattle off his stump speech talking points for an hour while Warren passively stood by. Notice how some of the more substantive questions asked of Obama mysteriously disappeared when McCain took his seat. It might as well have been moderated by Joe Lieberman.

Good to see them not slamming each other and just talking about issues and their beliefs. Soon enough the rhetoric will again become vicious and we'll be lucky to have any chance of having a serious debate about issues and vision for the next 8-10 years. I'm not sure if the Evangelical voters will turn out in droves as they did in '04 because I don't think they're fired up for McCain. It will be an interesting 88 days for sure. Stay tuned.

My hubby and I are both black and our "black" sides agree 100% that Clarence Thomas is as far from a Brutha as one can get. He's not only an uncle Tom, he's a terrible SCJ and is taking up a seat! Oh and for those who thought that Senator Obama flopped tonight, if you're of the "git 'er done", slogan, sound-bite mentality, then sure Mc is your guy. If you are educated,thoughtful, pragmatic and see things more nuanced and not all "black and white" then Senator Obama is your man. I hope and PRAY that our country is made up of more of the latter, although the Politico boards don't seem to be.

If you are sold on Obama...if he's your "man"...then you're not thougthful at all - just extremely gullible.

Of course McCain didn't have an answer about the wealthy! McCain does not care about the average American and it was so evident tonight! All McCain tried to do was showboat! McCain is so fake and out of touch it is unreal! McCain really scared me tonight because to me he just really showed me how much he loves war! That is all he dwelled on! If McCain get's in office we will be doomed! MCCAIN IS A DISHONORABLE MAN AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE PRESIDENT! You also notice he didn't give any details about the failure of his first marriage either! He didn't want to tell the truth about being a cheating scondrel and leaving his first wife when she was down and out! MCCAIN IS A DISHONORABLE MAN AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE PRESIDENT!

The picture Politico used for this story embodies what we saw at that forum. John McCain and Rick Warren standing together with a sneer on their faces while Obama cautiously reaches toward them. They probably couldn't believe he fell for the trap. Everything was set up perfectly so straight talkin' Songbird McCain could rattle off his stump speech talking points for an hour while Warren passively stood by. Notice how some of the more substantive questions asked of Obama mysteriously disappeared when McCain took his seat. It might as well have been moderated by Joe Lieberman.

Well, he obviously took it easy on poor iddy biddy Obama. If not, he would've flew into one of his temper tantrums. You know..the "HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME" attitude he gets when a member of the media actually presses him.

The guy's a lightweight who has been riding high on the phony image created for him by Axlerod.

Of course McCain didn't have an answer about the wealthy! McCain does not care about the average American and it was so evident tonight! All McCain tried to do was showboat! McCain is so fake and out of touch it is unreal!

Talk about "out of touch"...Obama is the one who wants to raise taxes and sink small businesses. As well as take profits from hard working citizens who play the stock market.

As for your "so fake" comment, there has NEVER been a candidate as fake as Obama. David Axelrod CREATED the Barack Obama persona that the media adores and promotes so vigorously.

Obama did a very outstanding job tonight! He is very thoughtful and ernest! He did not try to showboat like McCain! We need someone in the white house as the President that is toughtful and doesn't just shoot off at the mouth without thinking! The things facing us in this country is too serious! Obama did a wonderful job

But if you grade by who did the most theatrics and pandering then McCain did! But I want a thinker and a sincere individual! So OBAMA IS THE MAN!

STOP WITH THE LIES! OBAMA HAS NO INTENTIONS OF RAISING TAXES ON ANYONE MAKING LESS THAN $250,000 AND IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $150,000 THEN YOU WILL GET A TAX CREDIT! SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT AND STOP WITH THE LYING!

MCCAIN IS FAKE, OUT OF TOUCH AND A WARMONGER! MCCAIN WANT'S TO GET IF OFFICE SO HE CAN HAVE WAR WORLD 3 SO HE CAN HAVE ANOTHER SURGE AND PAY FOR IT WITH THE LIVES OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND PUT US FURTHER IN A DEFICIT!

IF MCCAIN BECOMES PRESIDENT WE WILL BE DOOMED! PEOPLE ARE RIGHT HE IS NOT MCBUSH....MCCAIN IS WORSE THAN BUSH!